The American opioid epidemic has received significant media attention, captivating the country with headlines that seem too terrible to believe. With opioid overdoses now causing more deaths every year than breast cancer, it is hard to argue this attention has been unwarranted or overblown. Yet even with the growing awareness of the crisis, there seems to be no end in sight, and addiction professionals are turning to all Americans for help.
Experts say that there are easy steps all Americans can take that could genuinely help improve the bleak outlook on the opioid crisis:
- Proper Disposal of Prescription Medications: Unused pills that are no longer needed to treat the symptoms for which they were prescribed should be brought to a pharmacy or police disposal unit, flushed down the toilet, or mixed with coffee grounds or kitty litter before thrown in the trash to ensure that others will not be able to access them.
- Proper Storage of Prescription Medications: Keep the medication out of the reach of pets or children and stored in their original container.
- Follow Orders and Use Medications Sparingly: You should expect to have some pain after surgery and should use painkillers only when the pain becomes too severe to manage. Work with your doctor to formulate a plan to use over the counter medication as a way to reduce your need for prescription drugs. Do not combine with alcohol or other medications.
If you are concerned that you or someone you love may be developing an addiction to prescription opioids, you should consult with a certified addiction specialist as soon as possible. Substance addiction is a progressive disease that will only get worse as time goes on.
At Asana Recovery we offer a supervised detoxification and residential treatment program in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to learn more about our comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction treatment program today.
